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Kimberly Burnett
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In Italy, International Women’s Day is celebrated with bouquets of mustard-yellow mimosa blossom flowers that “symbolize female strength and sensibility.” In China, women are given a half-day off from work, but in America we celebrate women throughout the entire month of March.
To kick off Women’s History Month, 91.7's program director Katie Coffey wanted to host an event celebrating International Women’s Day on campus that brought together student performers, local musicians the Petty Morals, and Salem State University’s Florence Luscomb Women’s Center.
“We really wanted to try to bring female performers that are students together with female artists already working in the industry and show what you can achieve and showcase women’s talents in general,” said Coffey, a third-year media and communications student.
In conjunction with the performers, 91.7 teamed up with the Florence Luscomb Women’s Center to educate students about international organizations that advocate for and empower women in India, Afghanistan, Canada, and all of Europe.
Women’s Center member Gaoia Ciaciarulo helped run an informative women’s advocacy table at the gig.
“We really need to have an international perspective to gauge what’s going on around us so we can learn and understand it,” said Ciaciarulo who was handing out free tampons, condoms and pastel-colored informative handouts about international organizations focused on women’s rights and advocacy.
The non-profit organizations included:
- The Pad Project- Hapur, India
- Ontario Native Women’s Association- Ontario, Canada
- European Abortion Access Project
- The Shudada Organization- Kabul, Afghanistan
Student performers included Alyssa Cassias, Rachel Miele, Carissa Myre, and two members of the Fools Agenda.
Guitarist and singer Rachel Miele performed a cover of The Cranberries' song “Linger” that was quite appropriate for the coffeehouse setting. Miele said gender shouldn’t matter as a musician.
“When I go up there I really don’t think of my gender at all because I’m so wrapped up in the music I am a musician,” said Miele. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a boy or girl or whatever you are you’re a human being and that’s all that matters.”